SARASOTA, Fla. and BOLINGBROOK, Ill., May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SUNV) and EPIR Technologies, Inc. ("EPIR" and collectively with SUNV "the Partners") are proud to report that the Partners' Cadmium Telluride on Silicon (CdTe/Si) solar technology has been selected for award negotiation for the Solar America Initiative (SAI) Photovoltaic Technology Pre-Incubator award. The announcement was made Wednesday by Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The selection process was conducted in accordance with the "Best Value Selection" requirements of the Department of Energy. The Solar America Initiative is the major U.S. program for the development and commercialization of solar energy, and the Pre-Incubator award is one of the most prestigious SAI awards.

The primary SAI program goal is the development and commercialization of environmentally friendly solar energy technologies to produce electricity at costs competitive with electricity generated from fossil and nuclear fuels (known as grid parity). The Partners expect to achieve grid parity by commercializing ultra-high-efficiency multi-junction CdTe-based concentrator solar cells at a small fraction of the cost of III-V multi-junction solar cells now used in concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) applications. CPV technology uses inexpensive lenses to concentrate sunlight onto small, highly efficient solar cells, thus requiring less land and far less costly material than other photovoltaic technologies.

Dr. Siva Sivananthan, President and CEO of EPIR Technologies, stated, "The selection of our solar technology by the Department of Energy is a confirmation by the government's leading solar energy experts of the potential commercial value of the developments that EPIR and Sunovia have accomplished. I wish to take this opportunity to personally recognize and thank Senator Durbin for his longstanding belief in EPIR Technologies and green energy. Senator Durbin's support is extremely valuable and has been a key element in our 50-plus percent growth over the past twelve months. I look forward to continue growing EPIR at a rapid pace and creating new green jobs in Illinois, while improving our national security and our environment."

Carl Smith, CEO of SUNV stated, "Our new solar energy technology has the potential to revolutionize the generation of electricity on a global basis. Our partners at EPIR have a virtual monopoly on single crystal CdTe/Si production which provides us with critical advantages and protections as we commercialize this new product line." Mr. Smith added, "We have already signed a contract to construct the largest CPV solar energy power plant in the world which will create important manufacturing jobs for many workers laid off by the U.S. semiconductor and automotive industries. EPIR has already begun hiring skilled technicians and workers in Illinois who were laid off by these industries, and we are working through the appropriate channels to ensure that new manufacturing jobs are created in states with important demographic synergies. We are proud to be creating these new jobs in the U.S. at a time when a majority of companies are eliminating jobs."

About Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc.

Sunovia(TM) Energy Technologies is a Sarasota, Florida-based company that commercializes and markets products within the LED lighting, infrared, and solar markets that reduce carbon emissions and promote national security. Sunovia's primary lines of business are advanced, cost-effective concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and flat panel solar systems that employ patented cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell and infrared (IR) technologies, and energy-efficient LED lighting products marketed under the EvoLucia(TM) brand. Sunovia has exclusive marketing rights to products produced by EPIR Technologies, Inc. for civilian and military night vision markets.

Sunovia's solar and LED lighting technologies are among the most cost and energy efficient in the world, and the company's research and development is dedicated to ensuring that Sunovia stays at the forefront of the renewable energy curve as markets expand and territories are defined. Sunovia is being advised by pre-eminent authorities in the field of renewable energy, including former Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and former Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I. Juster.

Sunovia owns a significant equity interest in Illinois-based EPIR Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the field of IR sensors and IR imaging that has pioneered the commercialization of CdTe on Si and HgCdTe on Si photovoltaic products, EPIR's collective infrared knowledge and experience is believed to exceed any company in the world. Its Founder, Chairman and CEO Dr. Sivalingam Sivananthan is the pioneer of HgCdTe growth by MBE and is a world renowned leader in this technology. EPIR holds the patent for growing CdTe directly on a Si readout integrated circuit, for which the company is developing a manufacturing capability with Congressional funding. Sunovia and EPIR have a network of close collaborative relationships, including the Army Research Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Night Vision Electronic Sensors Directorate, BAE Systems, and other laboratories around the world.

More information about the exclusive partnership between Sunovia and EPIR is available in Sunovia's Securities and Exchange filings at www.sec.gov, or at the partners' Web sites, www.sunoviaenergy.com and www.epir.com.

The Sunovia(TM) logo is a registered service mark of Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Sunovia Energy products and services and EvoLucia(TM) products and services are provided by Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement

Some of the statements made by Sunovia in this press release are forward-looking in nature. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Sunovia believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to: development and maintenance of strategic acquisitions; domestic and international acceptance of our product lines; defending our intellectual property and proprietary rights; development of new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; successfully completing commercial testing of new technologies and systems to support new products and services; and attracting and retaining qualified management and other personnel. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Sunovia's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors.

SOURCE Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc.

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